Source:  News Release

Hope Glynn Wins $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix as HITS Thermal Welcomes Hunter Riders to Qualify for the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final

Historic victory marks first hunter prix on HITS Desert Horse Park’s new Outside Course

THERMAL, CA – When Hope Glynn and Campari rode to the blue Sunday in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix, it capped a great week of competition at HITS Desert Circuit I and put an exclamation point on a string of successes by Sonoma Valley Stables. It also was one for the record books, marking the first high-stakes competition on the HITS Desert Horse Park’s new Outside Course and the first circuit qualifier for the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final this September in Saugerties, New York.

“This was the first hunter prix HITS has done using the bank options, and the course designed by John Manning allowed you to canter up as well as down options on and off the bank,” said Glynn, who also placed third on Rio Ultimo in the class of 43 riders. Both horses are owned by Helen Mc Evoy.

“It was very inviting to the horses. We got a lot of high scores because the horses performed well over a course like this. The horse I won on got a 92 in the first round and a 92 in the second round. The second place horse also had an average in the 90s, as did the third horse, which shows you’re really getting a good jump out of the horse. The course was fun, it gave them something to look at, but it wasn’t so challenging that it scared them away, which is a great, great thing.”

Indeed, the Outside Course proved as inviting to junior riders as it was to pros like Glynn. Second place Grady Lyman, of Rancho Santa Fe, is 12 years old and was riding in her first big hunter prix. “It was a great experience for me to be competing against the top name riders in a big class,” said Lyman, who competed on Flirt, under the guidance of one of her trainers at Bridgeport Farms, Lee Hughes. Flirt is owned by Penelope Murray.

John French of Woodside, California was fourth and fifth on Karyn Tendler’s Ondrus and Elizabeth Gabler’s Soldier, respectively.

Earlier in the week, Large Junior Hunter 15-and-Under and Small Junior Hunters 15-and-Under were the first to break ground in the newly configured ring. “It was a good first week using this new terrain,” said course designer Manning. “We had riders coming out of the ring smiling, so they thought it was interesting. The trainers are onboard. This could really change the sport!”

“I think it’s great that they’re using this course for other hunter classes during the week,” added Glynn. “They’re opening it up and allowing the general hunter exhibitor to experience a little bit of the fun of the hunter prix and the banks that are now in these rings.”

The $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix was the first class of the HITS Desert Circuit to qualify riders for the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final, taking place Sept. 6-8 during HITS Championship Weekend at HITS on the Hudson in Saugerties, New York. Glynn said she is definitely seeking to qualify for the $500,000 class. “I was the top-placed West Coast rider at the Final last year, and I think it’s a great experience to go back and compete against the top hunter riders in the East.”

©Flying Horse Photography
Hope Glynn and Campari were the pair to beat in yesterday’s $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Thermal. With their win, they now lead the West Coast going into the winter qualifying season for the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final.

©Flying Horse Photography
Hope Glynn and Campari are presented with first-place awards after winning the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Thermal this weekend.

$1,500 HITS Hunter Prix
Also on Sunday, the $1,500 HITS Hunter Prix offered a qualification opportunity for theHITS $250,000 Hunter Prix Final that will join the Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final in Saugerties. Bess Rochlitzer of Santa Barbara, California and Sylvia Ausweger’s  Piper took top honors in that class, followed by Erika Scherer of Rancho Santa Fe, California and Kendra Arnold’s GodSpeed. Gretchen Draper of Eagan, Minnesota and her own Holiday were third in a field of 22.

For complete results, click here.

©Flying Horse Photography
Bess Rochlitzer led junior and amateur riders this weekend at HITS Thermal with a win in the $1,500 Hunter Prix – the first qualifier for the HITS $250,000 Hunter Prix Final of HITS Championship Weekend. She rode Sylvia Ausweger’s Piper.

©Flying Horse Photography
Bess Rochlitzer and Piper accept first place after winning the first $1,500 Hunter Prix of the HITS Desert Circuit.

About Devoucoux
Devoucoux, makers of fine French saddles, is proud to be the title sponsor of each and every qualifying Hunter Prix leading up to the phenomenal Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final. The Devoucoux Hunter Prix will be a featured event at all HITS horse shows this season as riders from around the country set out to qualify for the third-annual Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final, which will take place September 7-8 at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York.

About Diamond Mills Hotel & Tavern
Just 100 miles outside of New York City, nestled in the Village of Saugerties, Diamond Mills is a 30-room luxury hotel featuring stellar accommodations, fine-dining at The Tavern and full-service events at a state-of-the art Special Events Center. Diamond Mills is a proud member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World^TM, an unsurpassed collection of over 520 luxury hotels around the world. Saugerties' newest luxury hotel is also the proud sponsor of the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final, which will take place at HITS-on-the-Hudson as part of the HITS Championship Weekend. For more information about Diamond Mills or the special VIP packages available to HITS-on-the-Hudson exhibitors, please visit DiamondMillsHotel.com or call 845.247.0700.

© Michael Nelson Photography.
One of 30 luxury rooms at the all-new Diamond Mills Hotel.

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